Chennai: Two women were killed and two men seriously injured yesterday when their car collided with a passenger train engine at an unmanned level crossing, around 40 km from Vridhachalam railway station, railway sources here said.
The incident took place between Pukkiravari and Mukhasaparur railway stations and the train was proceeding from Salem to Vridhachalam.
Southern Railways said it has appointed ‘Gate Mitras’ for all the unmanned level gates over Salem division. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Railways to enhance safety and to prevent accidents at unmanned level crossing gates.
The person engaged as ‘gate mitra’ would alert road-users about approaching trains at unmanned level crossings.
‘Gate Mitra’ N Arumugam alerted the car driver about the train’s arrival but the driver “did not heed to it,” a railways release said.
One of the injured was admitted at Government General Hospital – Kallakurichi, while the other was admitted at Government General Hospital – Mundiyapakkam, the release said.